Book Seven: Chapter 243

“It was my fault,” said the centaur. “I had food in my pockets that I forgot about.”

Zel relaxed, but only slightly. “I was worried,” she confessed. Even though moving the mandragora benefited her tribe, Zel had still been worried about the new arrangement. Ever since Ratu and Pele had certified that there was a zero percent chance of the mandragora escaping the secret bog, her only real concern was for the handlers who fed it meat. “Thanks for taking care of it for me.”

“I happened to be around.” Mike stopped in front of Zel and grinned. The handler seemed to sense that she was no longer needed, so trotted into the cave. “So, how’ve you been? It seems like I haven’t seen you that much lately.”

“I’m almost as busy as the Caretaker these days.” Zel grinned at him, then lowered her gaze. Things had been a little tense between the two of them after Callisto’s return, but Mike recognized that as a function of nearly losing their child. It didn’t have anything to do wit